Combination watch band



Aug. 9, 1966 w. J. M KINNEY COMBINATION WATCH BAND Filed March 15, 1965 INVENTOR. H WILLIAM J. MKINNEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent Filed Mar. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 439,679 4 Claims. (Cl. 2244) This invention relates to an expansion watch band, and more particularly to a bridge section for a watch band to relieve pressure over the arteries and veins in the wrist of the user.

Various devices have been devised for watch bands attempting to accomplish the purpose for which the applicants bracelet is intended. It is well known that very often a Watch band will be so tight around the wrist of the user that circulation is cut off in the wrist and particularly along the inner side of the arm over the veins and arteries. I

Applicants invention relates to the combination of a watch band and a stiffened portion thereon to bridge over the arteries and veins, and is believed to be unique in this particular regard.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide the watch band wherein a portion is expansible and a portion is non-expansible but somewhat bendable or resilient transversely of the band acting as a bridge around the portion of the wrist; to provide a band having the usual connections to the watch at one end and the unexpanable portion having means for connection to the watch and to said expansible portion of the band.

Still further objects of the present invention are to provide a portion of a band of un-expansible material although not completely rigid but slightly bendable, to provide means on the bridge or non-expansible attaching member for attaching same to the expansible watch band, and to provide a device of this character simple and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating my watch band attached to the watch.

FIG. 2 is a side view particularly illustrating the expansible and non-expansible portions.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an attachment for a watch band for bridging over a portion of the wrist.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the watch band with the non-expansible member attached thereto.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the expansible band and the attaching non-expansible members shown attached thereto.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a watch band embodying the features of my invention, consisting of an expansible band portion 2 and a non-expansible band portion 3 attached to a watch 4. The watch has the usual fastening pins 5 and 6 and the expansible member has a fastening portion 7 for attaching to the pin 5 and the non-expansible portion 3 has a fastening member 8 for attachment to the pin 6, as is the usual practice. The band portion 2 is pivotally attached to the watch, as well as the band portion 3.

The end 9 of the expansible band is provided with a pin 10 and the end 11 of the non-expansible band also has a pin 12. The end 9 of the expansible member and the end 11 of the non-expansible member abut together. On the outsides of each of the ends 9 and 11 are outstanding pins 11 and 12. Keeper members 13 having spaced openings fit over the pins 16 and 12 and are pressed thereon for pivotally attaching pins 9 and 10 together. Other means of pivotally securing the hands together may be used.

When the band is thus assembled the wrist of the user is indicated in dotted lines at 14 and the band is spaced therefrom as indicated at 15 (FIG. 2) so that circulation is freely allowed through the veins and arteries of the wrist portion of the wearer.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 there is shown an attachment or bridge 16 adapted to be secured to an expansible Watch band 17 of a watch 18. The bridge 16 is made of a non-expansible material, although slightly bendable transversely of the body thereof, and includes a body member 19 of substantially semi-circular formation, and has its outer side 20 adapted to engage the inside 21 of the expansible band 17 shown in FIG. 4.

The side 20 near the respective ends 22 and 23 thereof are provided with outwardly and inwardly extended spaced hooks 24 and 25 and 26, as shown in FIG. 3, the hook on the opposite side not being visible but is the same as book 24.

After the bridge 16 is placed inside the band 17 the hooks 24 and 25 engage the body of the hand between link members 27 and 28 of the watch band as shown in FIG. 5, and the hooks 26 on the end 23 also engage between links 29 and 30 on the band 17 oppositely of the connection as shown at 27 and 28. The band, however, may be adjusted to suit the user and need not be exactly center-wise of the expansible band. The band extends about the wrist of the user over the veins as indicated in dotted lines as at 31 (FIG. 5) showing the space 32 between the wrist and the bridge 16.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that my improved bridge for Watch band may be utilized as a part of the original expansible band or as an accessory to the expansible band, and which will relieve the pressure over the veins and arteries of the Wrist and thus allow free circulation.

It will also be obvious that the bridge may be made of plastic or other rigid material, not expansible longitudinally but slightly bendable transversely. The bridge section may be molded in colors or clear plastc. Metals or other materials may be plated or colored as desired. The bridge may also carry class emblems or other matter, if desired.

It is to be understood that while one form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of the parts herein described and shown, except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. An attachment for an expansible band for holding a watch on the back portion of the wrist of a user, said band consisting of a plurality of links, said attachment being of semi-circular form, and means near each end of said attachment for engaging between links of said expansible band, said attachment being positioned on said band to extend over the arteries of the wrist of the user opposite the back portion to relieve pressure on said arteries caused by the expansible band.

2. An attachment for an expansible band for holding a watch on the back portion of the wrist of a user, said band consisting of a plurality of links, said attachment being of flat semi-circular form, and means near each end of said attachment for engaging between links of said expansible band, said attachment being position on said band to extend over the arteries of the wrist of the user opposite the back portion to relieve pressure on said arteries caused by the expansible band.

3. An attachment for an expansible band for holding a watch on the back portion of the wrist of a user, said band consisting of a plurality of links, said attachment being of flat semi-circular form having one face engaging said wrist, and its opposite face engaging said expansible band, and means near each end of said attachment on the face thereof facing said expansible band for engaging between links of said expansible band, said attachment being positioned on said band to extend over the arteries of the wrist of the user opposite the back portion to relieve pressure on said arteries caused by the expansible band.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means engaging between links of said band consists of hooks facing each other and engaging the body of said band between said links.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/ 1931 Otten.

12/1939 Singer 2244 4/1942 Keltie 2244 6/1957 Ebert 2244 7/ 1959 Dzus 2244 FOREIGN PATENTS 6/ 1955 Switzerland.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

I. E. OLDS, Assistant Examiner. 

3. AN ATTACHMENT FOR AN EXPANSIBLE BAND FOR HOLDING A WATCH ON THE BACK PORTION OF THE WRIST OF A USER, SAID BAND CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF LINKS, SAID ATTACHMENT BEING OF FLAT SEMI-CIRCULAR FORM HAVING ONE FACE ENGAGING SAID WRIST, AND ITS OPPOSITE FACE ENGAGING SAID EXPANSIBLE BAND, AND MEANS NEAR EACH END OF SAID ATTACHMENT ON THE FACE THEREOF FACING SAID EXPANSIBLE BAND FOR ENGAGING BETWEEN LINKS OF SAID EXPANSIBLE BAND, SAID ATTACHMENT BEING POSITIONED ON SAID BAND TO EXTEND OVER THE ARTERIES OF THE WRIST OF THE USER OPPOSITE THE BACK 